20 Most Intimidating Stadiums in World Football

No matter how you try to ignore it, there are some football stadiums that are just intimidating.

All around the world, there are stadiums that work as fortresses. Clubs and countries are proud to play in the arena, and opponents are frightened to walk onto the pitch.

Whether it's the size, noise level or a combination of the two, each of these stadiums is a horrible place to visit. At the same time, they're all great atmospheres for the home crowds.

With so many places in the world, it is easy to overlook a great stadium. In order to try and avoid that, I made a maximum of three stadiums per country. As much fun as it would be to read about only a few countries, I'm trying to spread the article across the world.

If I missed any stadium or put a stadium in the wrong place on this list, feel free to let me know.

20. Stadio San Paolo, Napoli

Location: Naples, Campania, Italy

Opened: 1959

Stadio San Paolo holds over 60,000 people. While that's fewer than its original 82,000 capacity, it is an even more personal space. As a result, the games are even more hostile.

The fans are closer together, and they all have a good view of the pitch. They are loud and obnoxious, and opposing teams have a reason to fear visiting Napoli.

For more than 50 years, Stadio San Paolo has been the home field for Napoli. Even today, it is one of the most intimidating places to play in Italy.

19. Allianz Arena, Bayern Munich

Location: Munich, Germany

Opened: 2005

Allianz Arena is the home of Bayern Munich, and it is a tough place to play. The German juggernauts have had plenty of great moments in this arena, even though it's not quite seven years old.

It hosted the opening match of the 2006 World Cup, and the fans were incredible. The stadium seats 66,000, but when standing room is allowed, the attendance can reach 70,000.

Either way, the stadium is nearly always filled, and the fans are nearly always great.

18. Anfield, Liverpool

Location: Liverpool, Merseyside, England

Opened: 1884

Anfield is one of the most legendary stadiums in England. Liverpool have played at the grounds since 1892, and they have had more than a few successes within its confines.

Holding more than 45,000, Anfield is a bit smaller than the newer arenas, but the atmosphere is incredible. The fans are relentless, and they love to make their own players legends.

There aren't many better places in England, and Liverpool players are lucky to play in front of supporters like this.

It has lost some luster in recent years, but you can be sure teams still aren't excited to travel to Anfield in the middle of an EPL season.

17. Ibrox Stadium, Rangers

Location: Ibrox, Glasgow, Scotland

Open: 1899

Another legendary club. Another legendary stadium.

Ibrox Stadium hosts Rangers, and they have made a pretty solid pairing. Rangers have played at the ground for over 100 years, and with constant discussions on how to improve the ground, they could be playing there for another 100 years.

As an old stadium, it is on the smaller side, seating 51,000. However, the seats are close to the pitch, and the bowl gives it a seriously cool feel.

As an annual host to one of the best derby matches in the world, Ibrox Stadium has seen plenty of animosity over the years. The fans are spectacular, and opposing teams dread stepping on the pitch.

16. Veltins-Arena, Schalke 04

Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany

Opened: 2001

Veltins-Arena has played host to some huge events. The 2004 Champions League final and a 2006 World Cup quarterfinal were both played in the stadium.

When Schalke 04 play there, the fans come out in droves. It is a nice, new stadium, and it's almost always filled up. It seats over 54,000 fans, and it can hold nearly 62,000 when everyone is crammed in.

The ceiling is arguably the most intimidating part. The roof can close, making the place much louder. Teams hope for good whether in order to keep the roof open.

Veltins-Arena is easily one of the toughest places to play in Germany.

15. Stadio Olimpico, Lazio/Roma

Location: Rome, Italy

Opened: 1937

It is used for a variety of sports, but the Stadio Olimpico is most imposing when used for football.

Now, Lazio and Roma don't fill it up very much, but the sheer size of the place can be a little intimidating. When it is filled to its capacity of 82,000-plus, it gets extremely loud.

The size of it is one thing, but when it is packed with crazed fans, the intimidation factor is even greater.

While it isn't used to its fullest extent during Serie A football, the stadium is no less intimidating.

14. Elland Road, Leeds United

Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, England

Opened: 1897

The club may not be as great as it once was, but Elland Road remains one of the most intimidating stadiums in England. The fans are as loud as anyone, and they never take a second off.

Leeds United haven't been in the top flight since 2004, but the fans have stuck with the club. There have been some financial problems and relegations, but Leeds have fought back into the top half of the Championship.

They are still a long ways away from returning to the Champions League semifinals, but that doesn't make their home matches any less intimidating.

Rest assured, no English club feels comfortable heading to Elland Road.

13. Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, Fenerbahçe S.K.

Location: Istanbul, Turkey

Opened: 1908

Fenerbahçe S.K. have one of the best home stadiums in the world.

Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium is an incredible place, and it has a wonderful atmosphere. In Turkey, the stadium doesn't get the highest-profile games, but the matches are still incredibly intense.

Fans love football in Turkey, and they are extremely passionate for every single match. When you walk onto the pitch in front of 50,000 screaming people, you are going to be intimidated.

Fans are pretty close to the pitch, making the environment even more hostile. The arena is great, and it is one of the most intimidating places in the world.

12. Westfalenstadion, Borussia Dortmund

Location: Dortmund, Germany

Opened: 1974

The reigning Bundesliga champions have a pretty nice stadium.

In fact, Westfalenstadion is probably the most intimidating stadium in Germany. The fans are loud, the players are focused and the place is huge.

Given that, and its World Cup history (Germany lost here in the 2006 World Cup semifinals), German clubs do not want to enter the stadium.

Borussia Dortmund, however, have found a nice home in it. The Borussians are a strong side, and they are even better at home, with over 80,000 crazy fans at nearly every match.

With such a huge crowd, Westfalenstadion is one of the toughest places to play in the entire world.

11. Mineirão, Atletico Mineiro/Cruzeiro

Location: Minas Gerais, Brazil

Opened: 1965

Mineirão is the second-largest stadium in Brazil, and it is also the second-most intimidating.

Both Atletico Mineiro and Cruzeiro play their home matches in the stadium, and each team has great support. Regardless of the team on the schedule, no one wants to be the visiting team at Mineirão.

Most recently, the stadium has held nearly 76,000 people. Now, after the renovations for the upcoming World Cup, it will comfortably hold 70,000.

No one is playing there right now, but once the club teams return, this will, once again, become one of the most intimidating places in the world.

10. Celtic Park, Celtic

Location: Parkhead, Glasgow, Scotland

Opened: 1892

Celtic plays in one of the toughest arenas in the world. The fans are crazy, and all the opponents know it.

When you come to play Celtic, you better bring your A-game. The fans are relentless, and they don't let opponents off the hook very easily.

The home side feeds off the crowd, and their play improves as games wear on.

It's a legendary stadium, and over 60,000 fans pile in on a regular basis to cheer on the home side. With that many people against you, it's tough not to be intimidated.

9. El Monumental, Club Atletico River Plate

Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Opened: 1938

The home of the 1978 World Cup final is one of the greatest stadiums in the world. Club Atletico River Plate play their home matches in the stadium, and they enjoy a fair share of support.

In that World Cup final, the home country won in extra time over the Netherlands. Needless to say, the Argentinian fans were incredible. They didn't necessarily intimidate the Dutch, but they certainly made the match difficult.

Now, with the renovations, the stadium can seat just under 75,000 people, and it is one of the loudest stadiums in South America.

With so much lore and such loud fans, El Monumental is arguably the most intimidating stadium for any South American national team.

8. Luzhniki Stadium, Spartak Moscow/Torpedo Moscow

Location: Moscow, Russia

Opened: 1956

The largest stadium in Russia is the most intimidating.

Luzhniki Stadium is a huge arena, and the atmosphere is incredibly hostile. For the home squad, it is nice to have this many crazy fans behind you rather than against you.

For the visitors, in some cases, they are in actual danger. The fans can even be a danger to themselves.

Look, riots aren't going to break out that often, but they are always a possibility. When you enter Luzhniki Stadium, you remember what happened 30 years ago. When you see what recently happened in Egypt, you worry about what could happen again.

With that dark cloud looming over the stadium, it is easily one of the most intimidating stadiums in the world.

7. Camp Nou, Barcelona

Location: Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Opened: 1957

This picture is 15 years old, but I think it's pretty clear that Camp Nou is pretty humongous.

It is the largest stadium in Europe, and it seats just under 100,000—100,000!

That's absurd.

When opponents walk into Camp Nou, it is easy for them to hurt their necks looking up to the top. The stadium is huge, and seats are well above pitch level.

Other than the Clasicos and other big matches, the stadium is usually not full. However, the size is still incredible. Furthermore, in those big matches, the fans are spectacular.

Plus, whenever you enter Camp Nou, you have to face Lionel Messi and Co. And that's just a little bit intimidating.

6. Old Trafford, Manchester United

Location: Manchester, England

Opened: 1910

Old Trafford is the most intimidating stadium in all of England. It is big, the crowds are loud and the lore is great.

It is one of the most recognizable stadiums in the world, and Sir Alex Ferguson is a major reason why. He has built such a great tradition at Manchester United that most people go into the stadium assuming they'll lose (usually, they're right).

It is discouraging to walk through the tunnel, and that is one of the most intimidating factors. Players don't want to play United at home.

Obviously, it's a great story if you pull off the upset. Unfortunately, it's an extremely unlikely circumstance.

5. Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Real Madrid

Location: Madrid, Spain

Opened: 1947

The Bernabéu is the most intimidating stadium in Spain.

It doesn't have the sheer size of Camp Nou, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have the intimidation factor. Bernabéu is a tough place to play, and the stadium itself is a reason why.

Fans are in every corner of the stadium, and they are relentless on the players. When opposing teams come into Madrid, they definitely aren't looking forward to playing at the Bernabéu.

Real Madrid are one of the most storied clubs in European competition, and their stadium is a contributing factor to that. The club intimidates opponents, and the stadium intimidates opponents.

4. San Siro, AC Milan/Inter Milan

Location: Milan, Italy

Opened: 1926

For almost 100 years, San Siro has been the home to two of Italy's biggest clubs. AC Milan and Inter have been rivals from the very beginning, and they continue that rivalry today.

For other clubs, when they come to San Siro, they are more than just intimidated. Regardless of which team you are visiting, San Siro is a tough place to earn three points.

With a capacity over 80,000, the arena is one of the biggest in all of Europe. In turn, the fans are always loud and energetic. On average, the teams bring in between 50,000 and 60,000 fans.

It's a huge arena, and the fans are rowdy. Accordingly, San Siro is one of the most intimidating stadiums in the world.

3. Maracanã, Botafogo/Flamengo

Location: Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

Opened: 1950

Originally for the 1950 World Cup, Maracanã has become one of the most identifiable stadiums in the world. Even though it doesn't seat as many people as it once did, Maracanã can still fit in well over 80,000.

Right now, it is under construction for some renovations in time for the 2013 Confederations Cup. The field and stands will be better than ever, and they were already pretty darn good.

Playing in Maracanã is extremely daunting. The circular structure has fans in every corner, making the fans impossible to escape. In addition, Maracana has so much history and lore that players can forget that it's simply a stadium.

It is one of the best stadiums in the world, and it is one of the most intimidating to play in. When the World Cup rolls around, we'll see how many players can respond to pressure inside of it.

2. Red Star Stadium (Marakana), Red Star Belgrade

Location: Belgrade, Serbia

Opened: 1963

Red Star Stadium—Marakana, as it's known—is one of the most hostile environments in all of football. The Serbian club Red Star Belgrade use this intensity to their advantage.

When clubs go into the stadium, they can never be excited. The fans are loud and aggressive, and the stadium is built so that the fans appear to be on top of the pitch.

With the structure of the stadium, fans are able to be right over the players, and that makes it incredibly difficult to play.

Red Star Belgrade are usually a decent team (for what they play), but their environment's intimidation is second to none in Europe.

1. La Bombonera, Boca Juniors

Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Opened: 1940

This is it: the most intimidating football stadium in the world.

Boca Juniors have played in this stadium for over 70 years, and it is one of the most well-known stadiums in the world—for good reason.

La Bombonera seats 49,000, and nearly every one of them seems to be on top of the pitch. The fans are raucous, and the opponents are wide-eyed, as this legendary stadium continues to help Boca Juniors win matches.

When the fans start to jump and chant, the stadium is known to shake. That's right—shake.

For historical purposes, it would be great to play in such a great stadium. For winning purposes, opposing teams would rather just stay away.